Half to harvey bissell



(No Model.) 7

M. MILLER. I 000k Eye and. Hook for-Traces and Neck Yoke Straps.

No. 24l,690. Patented may 17,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

MATTHIAS MILLERJOF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-' HALF TO HARVEY BISSELL, OF SAME PLACE.

COCKEYE AND HOOK FOR TRACES AND NEOK-YOKE STRAPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,690, dated May 1'7, 1881..

- Application filed March 30, 1881. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTHIAsMILLEma citizen of the United States, residing atGrand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sockets and Cockeyes for Traces and Neck-Yoke Straps, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to sockets and cookeyes for whiffletrees, which permits the convenient attachment and detachment of the trace.

The object of the invention is to provide a socket and cockeye by which the cockeye can be rapidly passed into the socket and stoppedat the required position to permit it to swing around the socket and thereby be locked and confined in place. The invention is illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which Figurel represents a perspective view of the parts when connected together for use. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the parts when in a position to connect them together; Fig. 3, detached perspective views of the socket and the cap which covers the slot Fig. 4, a modification of the cockeye for neck-yoke straps.

The letter A indicates a whiffletree; or, instead, it may be a neck-yoke, which is funnished at the end with a metallic ferrule, a and Cindicates the socket, which is furnished-with .a plain or screw-threaded shank driven into the end of the whifiletree or neck-yoke. The socket consists of a head rounded at its outer end and flat on its upper and lower sides and provided with a cylindrical opening or passage, D, extending through it from top to bottom, one side of the said head being provided with a vertical slot, E, extendinginto the cylindrical passage, and of a width somewhat less than the diameter of the same.

The letter F indicates a trace or, instead thereof, it may be the usual holdback-strap, to be c'onneoted with the neck-yoke. The cockeye G is swiveled to the trace or strap by a pin or bolt, H, and to the cross-bar I of the cockeye are attached or formed two parallel arms, J J, connectedattheir outer ends by a cylindrical pin, L, which is of a diameter corresponding to and adapted to snugly fit within the passage D of the socket. The arm J of the cockeye is ofa width less than the ing'flange or shoulder, M, which subserves the function of an abutment or stop to determine and limit the insertion of the cockeye into the socket to lock the same therein.

passed downward into the passage D and the slot E until the flange or shoulder M and arm J rest against the upper flat face of the socket,- and when in this position the cockeye is swung around to the closed front side of the socket,- thereby bringing the arms of the cockeye over the solid flat faces of the socket and efiecti vel y connect the parts together.

' It should be observed that the head of the socket is of considerable thickness in front of the passage therein, the objectof which is to adapt it to sustain the great strains to which it is subjected, whether it be on a whiffletree 'oron a neck-yoke. T It should also be observed that in orderto connect the trace or strap with the socket the cockeye must be turned and brought to a po sition at or about right angles to the trace or strap, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to pass the cylindrical pin down into the passage in the socket, and therefore as soon as this is accomplished and the cockeye is released it will antomatically swing around and interlock with the socket by reason of the strain to which it is subjected by the trace or neck-yoke strap, which is of considerable importance, and provides a means of connection between the whiffietree or neckyoke and. the trace or strap,

into ring-bearings P P, which rest within circular seats Q in the upper and lower faces of the socket. The cap portion N is solid and of This cap N is pro- -vided with two parallel arms, 0 O, embracing the socket, and the ends of the arms are formed 60 In use the cylindrical pin L and arm J are 35 horse-collar.

5 the cylindrical pin L on the ring-bearings P of the cap is sufficient to turn the cap in connecting or disconnecting the parts; but to insure the automatic movement of the cap from over the slot, I provide it with the lateral lug b,

against which the arm J of the cockeye strikes,

and carries the cap around when the cockeye is to be detached. p

I do not broadly claim the cockeye composed of two arms connected by the cylindrical pin I 5 and having the lateral stop, said cockeye being arranged to connect with a slotted joint formed at one side of a ferrule, which is attached to the end of thewhiftletree, as such is not my invention. Inmy structure the parts are so constructed that the socket projects longitudinally from the end of the whiffletree and is en tirely independent of the ferrule, and the cockeye enters the; socket at one side and swings around the outer end of the socket to the op- 2 5 posite side of the latter, and normally rests 0 socket will sustain the great strains to which it is subjected, owing to its thickened head.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modification of the cockeye, which is specially adapted for the straps which connect the neck-yoke with the It is provided with rollers, as

represented, which form a rolling bearing for the neck-yoke strap, which is a very desirable feature. I

The arms J J, pin L, and shoulder M are o substantially similar to those of the cockeye shown in the other figures of. the drawings, and itis adaptedto connect with the socketin the manner hereinbefore described.

What I claim is- 1. The socket (l, projecting longitudinally from the outer end of the whiffletree or neckyoke, and formed with the flat upper and lower sides, and the cylindrical passage and slot D and E, in combination with the cockeye, constructed with the arms J J and pin L, and adapted to be inserted into said socket at one side, and to swing around the outer end of the sameyto the opposite side thereof, substantially'as described.

2. The socket O, projecting longitudinally from the outer end of the whiffletree or neckyoke, and formed with the thickened front portion, the rounded outer end, the flat upper and lower faces, and the cylindrical passage and slot D'and E, as described, in combination with the cockeye having arms J and J and pin L, and constructed to be inserted into the socketv at one side thereof and to swing around the outer end of the same to its opposite side, and normally rest against the thickened portion of the socket, all as herein shown and described.

3. In combination with the socket having the passage L and slot E, the cap adapted to be moved to cover or uncover the slot by the connection or disconnection of the trace or strap and the socket, to prevent the access of dirt through the slot, substantially as described. I

4. In combination with the slotted socket, the sliding cap provided with the arms having rin g-bearin gs seated in the faces of the socket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereot'I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' MATTHIAS MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES REEVES, WM. M. ROBINSON. 

